Directional antenna assembly

Abstract

A dual band antenna assembly is described to include a pair of dual band active radiating elements disposed upon a dielectric substrate. A pair of LC traps and conductor elements are electrically coupled to the radiating conductor elements to provide dual band resonance for cellular telephone and PCS device bandwidth ranges. Additional performance may be achieved with parasitic reflector and director elements. The multi-element directional antenna finds particular applicability for in-vehicle and wireless communication use.

I claim: 
     
       1. A dual band directional antenna assembly comprising: a dielectric substrate having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface generally directed in a direction of maximum signal propagation;   a pair of conductive radiating elements disposed upon the first surface of the dielectric substrate;   a pair of LC trap structures, each having a first end and a second end, said first end of each LC trap structure being operatively coupled to an associated one of said radiating elements; and   a pair of conductive resonance members, each of said pair of conductive resonance members being operatively coupled to an associated one of the pair of LC trap structures at said second end.   
     
     
       2. The dual band directional antenna according to claim 1 further comprising: a dual band reflector assembly disposed away from the dielectric substrate in a direction substantially opposite the direction of maximum signal propagation, said dual band reflector assembly comprising a conductor member, a pair of LC trap structures, and a pair of resonance panel members.   
     
     
       3. The dual band directional antenna according to claim 1 wherein the dielectric substrate is substantially planar. 
     
     
       4. The dual band directional antenna according to claim 1 wherein the pair of LC trap structures and the pair of conductive resonance members are disposed away from the second surface of the dielectric substrate in a direction substantially opposite the direction of maximum signal propagation. 
     
     
       5. The dual band directional antenna according to claim 1 wherein each of the pair of LC trap structures is a wire coil structure. 
     
     
       6. A dual band directional antenna comprising: a dielectric substrate having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface generally directed in a direction of maximum signal propagation;   a pair of conductive radiating elements disposed upon the first surface of the dielectric substrate;   a first pair of LC trap structures, each of said first pair of LC trap structures having a first node and a second node, said first node of each LC trap structure being operatively coupled to an associated one of the pair of conductive radiating elements;   a first pair of conductive resonance elements, each operatively coupled at the second node of one of the first pair of LC trap structures; and   a dual band reflector assembly disposed away from the second surface of the dielectric substrate in a direction substantially opposite the direction of maximum propagation, said dual band reflector assembly includes a conductor element, a second pair of LC trap structures, and a second pair of conductive resonance elements.   
     
     
       7. The dual band directional antenna according to claim 6 wherein the dielectric substrate and the conductor element of the dual band reflector assembly being in substantially parallel relationship. 
     
     
       8. The dual band directional antenna according to claim 6 further comprising: a conductive director element positioned away from the first surface of the dielectric substrate and generally in the direction of maximum signal propagation.   
     
     
       9. The dual band directional antenna according to claim 6 wherein a width of the dielectric substrate is substantially equal to a width of at least one of said pair of conductive radiating elements. 
     
     
       10. The dual band directional antenna according to claim 6 wherein each of the first pair of LC trap structures comprises a wire loop structure. 
     
     
       11. The dual band directional antenna according to claim 6 wherein the dielectric substrate includes an aperture sized to receive therethrough a coaxial feedline. 
     
     
       12. A dual band directional antenna comprising: a dielectric substrate having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface generally directed in a direction of maximum signal propagation;   a pair of conductive radiating elements disposed upon the first surface of the dielectric substrate;   a first pair of LC trap structures, each being operatively coupled to an associated one of said pair of conductive radiating elements;   a first pair of conductive resonance members, each being operatively coupled to an associated one of said pair of conductive radiating elements through an associated one of said first pair of LC trap structures; and   a dual band reflector assembly disposed away from the second surface of the dielectric substrate and in a direction substantially opposite the direction of maximum propagation, said dual band reflector assembly comprising a conductor section, a second pair of LC trap structures, and a second pair of conductive resonance members.   
     
     
       13. The dual band directional antenna according to claim 12 wherein each of said first and second pair of conductive resonance members includes an angled portion. 
     
     
       14. The dual band directional antenna according to claim 12 wherein each of the first pair of LC trap structures is a wire loop structure. 
     
     
       15. The dual band direction antenna according to claim 12 further comprising: a director element disposed away from the first surface of the dielectric substrate generally in the direction of maximum signal propagation.   
     
     
       16. A dual band directional antenna comprising: a housing member;   a planar dielectric substrate disposed upon said housing member and having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface generally directed in a direction of maximum signal propagation;   a pair of conductive radiating elements disposed upon the first surface of the dielectric substrate;   a first pair of LC trap structures, each being operatively coupled to an associated one of said pair of conductive radiating elements through an aperture of the dielectric substrate;   a first pair of conductive resonance members, each being operatively coupled to an associated one of said pair of conductive radiating elements through an associated one of said first pair of LC trap structures; and   a dual band reflector assembly disposed away from the second surface of the dielectric substrate in a direction substantially opposite the direction of maximum signal propagation, said dual band reflector assembly comprising a conductor section, a second pair of LC trap structures, and a second pair of conductive resonance members.   
     
     
       17. The dual band directional antenna according to claim 16 wherein each of the first and second pair LC trap structures is a wire loop structure. 
     
     
       18. The dual band directional antenna according to claim 16 wherein the dielectric substrate and the conductor section of the dual band reflector assembly are substantially co-planar. 
     
     
       19. The dual band directional antenna according to claim 16 wherein said housing member is either a vehicle interior housing or a housing adapted for interior use. 
     
     
       20. The dual band directional antenna according to claim 19 wherein said housing member is a wireless LAN housing adapted to be secured upon a wall or ceiling of a structure.